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A Dungeons & Dragons podcast, where a rotating panel of DM’s provides insight and inspiration for Players and Dungeon Masters.
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 02, 2019
Tuesday Apr 02, 2019
The very first Mailbag of Holding episode hits with 20 questions rolled on random tables that the Dungeon Masters address, including their advice for DM's and players, their experiences playing, and even their personal lives. From old school monsters to TPK's to 6th Edition, this episode has a little bit of everything and lives up to the promise that on the It's A Mimic! podcast, you never know what you're going to get! The Dungeon Masters even cover beer, sex, and shadowy government organizations! Don't miss this episode!
The questions were brought to you by:
@alexander_anotherskip_davis
@allnaturaltwenties
@amature_box_01
@bendpadon
@benskene
@bryce.carl
@closetgamers
@dndream_03
@dorianmikulan
@greydaze511
@hudson_wight_99
@kind_of_a_rarity
@live4hisglory
@_multi_coloured_
@_rollordie_
@rustystyrofoam
@rwbysinister
@sirmikeb
... and Adam's brother, Dave.
Thank you all so much for participating! If you require further explanation, have a follow up question, or want to ask something completely new, feel free to contact us to have your question added to the random tables!
Shout Outs: @inspirationandselflove_
Available On:
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
APRIL FOOLS!!! Just as most mimics look like chests and most episodes look well-researched, this Monday looks relatively normal. But you should know better by now, Constant Listeners. For today is the holiday made for mimics everywhere, and this panel of DM’s love giving when you least expect it. So here’s a short, quick, special episode about how to design and create a wizard’s tower for your campaign. The Dungeon Masters of the It’s A Mimic podcast bring you a brief breakdown of how to create your own wizard’s tower.
From magic spells to arcane secrets, wizards’ towers are full of all sorts of zany wackiness that defies all logic. In this special episode of the Dungeons & Dragon 5th Edition podcast about wizard’s towers, the DM’s work together to do some stuff. Let’s be honest. No one is reading this far into the show notes, and I’m just sitting here talking to myself. I damn-well know Dan and Terry won’t be looking this over, so I could honestly ramble on about giants or nilbogs or whether or not Tiamat breastfeeds her young, and no one would ever know. I mean, dragons are - canonically - warm blooded creatures, but they also lay eggs. Considering that the goddess of evil dragons literally lives in her own supernatural spawning pits between two layers of the Nine Hells, she obviously devotes quiet a lot of time to spawning. You’ll note that it’s not called a “mating pit”, but a “spawning pit”. In theory, it’s a maternity ward, which is good because I don’t want to think about what bumping uglies with a gargantuan five-headed scaly evil hell-bitch looks like, so I’m going to focus on what I assume must be the softer side of Tiamat. You know, the side that houses her compassion for her chromatic dragons and the wyrmlings that she obviously cares for. Wait a minute. Wait an effing minute. Do dragons lactate? If they’re some sort of mammal/reptile crossbreed, do they even have mammary glands? And how MANY do you think they have? Look, I figure that this is just another random Adam ramble where no one is paying attention anyway, but on the off chance that you actually did read this far, leave an out of context number in the comments below that indicate the number of boobies you think a dragon goddess might have, and don’t tell anyone what you’re talking about. Especially Dan and Terry. It’ll be funny. And also, have yourself a lovely April Fool’s Day and enjoy this special episode of It’s A Mimic! Also, the first paragraph was bullshit, too. I lied. Isn’t D&D fun?
Available On:
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Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 26, 2019
Tuesday Mar 26, 2019
This is a more mature episode that handles sensitive subject matter as it tries to address the delicate nature of issues at the table and personality differences among players. To wrap up the broad strokes of the final tier, the panel of Dungeon Masters covers the concepts of social contracts, Session Zero, and respect. Other than the game mechanics and RPG flavour, what are the logistics that should be addressed to keep the game fun and allow everyone to feel comfortable and free to take roleplaying risks? The DM's attempt to open the conversation up this week and give their opinions on many of the taboo subjects that have historically been tied to the game.
SUMMARY: After addressing meta-gaming in the last episode, the DM's turn their attention from the game to the table, and discuss the ideas of boundaries, morality, listening, and accountability while looking at the more unpleasant aspects of RPG's and Dungeon & Dragons. From financial limitations to challenging DM's about rules, from penalizing bards to making faux pas while playing other genders, and from misreading sexual encounters to dealing with problem players, this long episode covers a plethora of topics that cause static at a lot of tables. The three Dungeon Masters work together to shed some light on how they handle problematic scenarios and the best practices for resolving some of the issues including when and how you should address things that make you uncomfortable, whether it's okay to quit your group, and how different tables handle different subject matter.
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 19, 2019
Tuesday Mar 19, 2019
What do you know and what does your character know, and where do those knowledge bases overlap? The conversation this week points our Dungeon Masters toward one of the most controversial topics in the D&D community: Meta-Gaming. They tackle the pros and cons before moving on to discuss character motivations and how they may be contrary or complementary to player motivations. The podcast wraps by talking about immersion in the world and how to achieve it.
SUMMARY: During this episode of the It's A Mimic! podcast, the Dungeon Masters discuss when, why, and how characters can make logical estimates outside of the mechanical aspects of the game and breathe within the imaginary realm of their respective game. Adam decides to stick his neck out and defend Meta-Gamers, and then Dan turns the conversation to what players and DMs should do if a character's objections are wrapped up and their story naturally ends mid-campaign. They start digging deeper and Terry addresses the idea that roleplaying should affect alignment and not the other way around. Other questions that get answered are: What ways are there for your character think about the mechanics smiting or sneak attacking? When can you use Arcana, History, Nature, Religion checks to determine a character's knowledge? How long should conversations be between characters be in the middle of combat? Should you keep secrets from your Dungeon Master? How often should you use magic items? How much does a player's decision-making process affect the campaign?
Shout Outs: @20sidedlife
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
007 is notorious for dropping his alias at the earliest possible moment, often even going undercover with his real name, so it’s fitting that Episode 007 is the one where The Dungeon Masters tackle the idea of staying in character and turn to the final tier of play: Roleplaying. Each of the DM’s start by discussing how they tend to build their characters when they get to be players, and then move on to creating atmosphere and immersion with voices, costumes, music, props, and more. The conversation turns, finally, to pacing and teamwork, and it’s amazing how often the panel actually agrees!
SUMMARY: Different people roleplay in different ways, but it’s surprising how often these three Dungeon Masters manage to agree on most of the issues. While discussing mentalities on how to create a character, the panel discusses whether or not mechanics are more important than character archetypes, and when you may want to shift your thinking. When the conversation turns to multiclassing, Dan leads the conversation in how roleplaying can affect mechanics and vice versa. When they address voices and props and methods to express your characters, Adam addresses a problem he has with some expectations thrust upon one class in particular. The discussion touches briefly on music, and then moves into pacing and midweek content. Terry finishes up by talking about how it’s not necessary to run quickly from combat to combat, and if the journey is important, then slow down and live in the moment as the character.
Shout Outs: @breakyourheroes
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Friday Mar 08, 2019
Friday Mar 08, 2019
In this episode, the Dungeon Masters conclude the series on Exploration by looking at their different techniques for using overland maps and analyzing each other's tactics for creating the world. As they open up the conversation on traps and puzzles, the DM's move back and forth between the players' perspective and the Dungeon Master's, discussing their own tactics depending on which side of the DM Screen they are sitting on. They wrap up the episode with a deep dive into Ability Checks and when to use which ability. With vastly different points of view and wildly off-topic tangents, this episode is packed with content for absolutely everyone!
SUMMARY: From worldbuilding and maps to puzzles and traps, the topics in this week's episode covers a huge swath of territory as the panel of DM's wraps up their conversation on Exploration. Each of the hosts covers their own methods for creating world maps before they begin to tear apart what makes a good trap and how to create unique ones. They then move on to how players can utilize some mundane items to help bypass traps and find secrets, and techniques for how Dungeon Masters can leave clues for puzzles. They then wrap up with a roundtable discussion on Ability Checks and how to use them, each of them coming from different school of thought. There is something for every kind of player in this episode of It's A Mimic! and the group of DM's pushes forward with new and unique takes on some of the more mundane aspects of the game, including how to make your pit traps more interesting and why players should always carry a bag of flour with them.
Shout Outs: Dungeon Keep
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 26, 2019
Tuesday Feb 26, 2019
Dungeons & Dragons is full of unique and dangerous locations, and the panel of Dungeon Masters sit down in this week’s episode to cover a wide variety of topics regarding the settings of campaigns. From the importance of climate and weather to a whirlwind tour of the planes, the DM's travel around the landscapes and dispense their own unique takes on the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons.
SUMMARY: As the DM's continue their discussion on Exploration, they stop to look at how environments can change gameplay in Dungeons and Dragons. While touching on mechanics like Survival and Visibility, the panel looks at the use of time in game and how fantasy settings can be fantastical aspects of the real world. They explore the different feelings of some published environments, including The Temple of Elemental Evil from Princes of the Apocalypse, Chult from Tomb of Annihilation, Barovia and Castle Ravenloft from Curse of Strahd, and The Tomb of Horrors from Tales from The Yawning Portal, as well as taking a quick tour of the planes that even the newest players can understand, focusing for a little on the Feywild and the Underdark. Terry talks about using the environment as a puzzle, Dan brings up the use of weather for establishing tone, and Adam discusses how he uses time and location in conjunction with random encounter tables. Whether it's discussing the importance of roads or the ideal weather for fighting a white dragon, the conversation gets deeper into why Exploration is so important in Dungeons and Dragons, no matter the campaign.
Shout Outs: RPG Yogi
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
In this week’s episode of the It’s A Mimic! podcast, the Dungeon Masters leave combat tactics behind and focus on exploration and why it’s important. The discussion topics that they cover include why exploration is important, description and narration, and engaging players with different exploratory strategies. From mystery and the unknown, to ability checks and skill challenges, the panel covers a series of topics all related to discovering details of the world outside of battle and social encounters!
SUMMARY: Dungeon Masters always spend more time on world building than the players will ever know, but whose fault is it if there’s never any opportunity to explore the world? As the panels of DMs get together this week to discuss the ins and outs of Dungeons and Dragons’ often-ignored pillar of the game, Exploration, they take a look at timing, skills, and the use of maps. Adam focuses on the importance of pacing and his struggles with it, Terry brings up the idea of using a character’s senses to help understand the environment, and Dan opens a huge can of worms about how to use abilities. At the end of the episode, all three Dungeon Masters discuss memorable settings that they’ve experienced, and Terry’s answer will probably shock you!
Shout Outs: All Natural Twenties
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Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
The panel of Dungeon Masters concludes their preliminary look at combat, this time focusing on the tactics of creatures, both intelligent and unintelligent, as well bosses and villains. As they break down different ways that other DM’s may use the same creatures with different motivations, they begin looking at how environments, enemy groupings, and overarching plots can inform the tactics of each bad guy on the battlefield.
SUMMARY: In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the discussion naturally turns to tactics and motivations in combat scenarios. Because that’s how they celebrate love, apparently. From bears and rust monsters to the Big Bad Evil Guys, the panel of Dungeon Masters pull back the curtains to reveal their own tricks and tips for others to use when planning battles and fights. Adam gives a useful breakdown for the intelligence levels of creatures, Terry brings up his preference of having villains with sympathetic motivations and flirting with the grey areas of morality, and Dan breaks apart the idea of knowing which scenario calls for the use of which monster. Whether it’s thinking about the timing of the combat or deciding how memorable you want to make your villains, if you have a question about how to plan a battle, this is the episode you need to hear!
Shout Outs: The Clearcut Crew
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Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Continuing the conversation about combat, the panel of Dungeon Masters expand the discussion to cover more specific tips for DM's. The main talking points in this episode tackle the differences between Theater of the Mind and using Maps and Minis, how to balance combat encounters, and whether or not to help players when things go awry.
SUMMARY: All three DM's weigh in on the pros and cons of the Theater of the Mind style of play, looking at the concepts of player engagement, trust at the table, and cinematic moments in combat. Dan then shifts the topic to cover how to balance encounters and difficulty levels, and the various strengths and techniques of the different dungeon masters begin to reveal themselves. After moving through conversations about battle escalation and session pacing, the group goes off topic to analyze how to give environmental clues and reminisces about previous characters in their campaigns that have died. When the discussion turns to whether or not to help the players, Adam reveals some of his techniques to keep some players alive longer by attacking other things besides their Hit Points, and Terry talks about the most sentimental item he’s ever owned as a player and what happened when it was in danger.
Shout Outs: The Original Die
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube | www.itsamimic.com
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore